The Saint on TV

Episode 53: The Contract

"THE CONTRACT"

Roger Moore himself is the director of "The Saint" episode "The Contract",
in which, as Simon Templar, he finds himself embroiled in a spine-tingling
series of adventures when, eight years after an American air base in England
has been robbed, the thief returns from imprisonment to try to find the
stolen money.

Two noted American actors appear with him. They are Dick Haymes and Robert
Hutton. And the cast includes John Bennett, Michael Peake, Elizabeth Weaver,
Richard Easton and Ivor Dean.

The first indication the Saint, Simon Templar (ROGER MOORE), has that a
former American Airman named Farnberg (ROBERT HUTTON) has been released from
prison and has returned to England is when a vicious attempt is made to run
him down.

Farnberg went to prison after robbing the U.S. Air Force base paymaster's
office. Simon's evidence helped to convict him.

But the money was never found. Farnberg is now back in England, bent not
only on getting the money but on vengeance against the Saint. The latter
project nearly succeeds, but Simon is saved by the unexpected appearance of
an old friend named Dunstan (DICK HAYMES), who was an American Air Force
security man at the time of the robbery.

Dunstan explains that he has been right behind Farnberg since his release
from prison. A clue picked up by Simon sets them on a search for a woman
named Mrs. Ballinger (ELIZABETH WEAVER) who turns out not only to be a
novelist under the name of Eileen Wiltham but the widow of an American
Airman who was killed in a 'plane crash just after the robbery.

Simon warns here that he thinks she is mixed up in something nasty: he
suspects that her husband was involved in the robbery, probably as the
accomplice who hid the money. Eileen Ballinger is indignant at this
reflection on the man she loved and trusted. She also points out, icily,
that he didn't leave any money to her. Events, however, disillusion her. It
becomes increasingly clear that her husband did receive the money, and her
life is now in danger because Farnberg is determined to make her tell him
where it is hidden.

Both Simon and Dunstan persevere with their inquiries. Further attempts are
made on Simon's life, and what happened eight years ago gradually becomes
evident. A clue is given to them by another ex-USAF man named Chuck Powers
(RICHARD EASTON), who was with Ballinger in the 'plane that crashed but
survived. He is still an invalid, but he succeeds in recalling that they
made a landing in Holland, not far from Amsterdam.

It is a reasonable guess, therefore, that Ballinger had contacts there who
exchanged the money for diamonds. But where did he hide them?

A novel written by Eileen provides the vital clue. For Farnberg, the
solution to the mystery is too late .... and for Simon, on the point of
triumph, there is further spine-tingling danger when Dunstan turns out to be
something rather different than it had seemed.....



PRODUCED BY ROBERT S. BAKER and MONTY BERMAN
DIRECTED BY ROGER MOORE
SCRIPT SUPERVISION HARRY W. JUNKIN

ROGER MOORE SIMON TEMPLAR
DICK HAYMES DUNSTAN
ROBERT HUTTON FARNBERG
ELIZABETH WEAVER EILEEN BALLINGER
IVOR DEAN INSP. TEAL

JOHN BENNETT ARDOSSI
MICHAEL PEAKE FRISTE
RICHARD EASTON CHUCK POWERS
DOUGLAS MUIR DOCTOR JEROME
MARY JONES MRS. EVANS